Two-thirds of Britons have carried out DIY during the past year in a bid to save money, a survey has shown. The problem for many homeowners may be that in an attempt to save money they are undertaking DIY tasks which they really should be getting a professional to do. In their zeal, an amateur DIY enthusiast may find themselves causing more damage to their home thus having to make a home insurance claim and face higher premiums or pay a professional to fix the damage.

The survey carried out by Sainsbury's Home Insurance found that painting was the most common task people undertook themselves rather than paying a professional to do it, with 51% redecorating their home. You might think that this isn't exactly going to put your home at risk but a simple task such as painting could see someone accidently spilling paint on the carpet leaving the home owner having to make a claim or purchase an expensive new carpet and pay someone to fit it.

The survey also discovered that some DIY'ers where tackling more challenging tasks such as electrical and plumbing jobs. The survey discovered that around 38% of people tackled minor electrical jobs, 21% turned their hand to plumbing and 15% tried tiling. Further still the survey revealed that one in 10 people took on even more complex electrical tasks, such as doing work in the kitchen, bathroom or garden, while 11% installed a new kitchen or bathroom and 7% took on a full-scale building project, such as an extension. These more complex jobs are the ones where many would recommend getting a professional in as a mistake could cost a lot more to rectify than hiring a professional to do the job in the first place.

Joanne Mallon, Sainsbury's Home Insurance manager, said: "DIY is a great way to save money and the sense of achievement when the job's done can be tremendous, so don't ruin it by exposing yourself to calamity. Check you have good accidental damage cover and check that your insurer will cover you whilst you undertake the work."

The survey discovered that women are just as keen as men to pick up the hammer or the paint brush and turn their hand to a bit of DIY. The figures showed that 62% of women had undertaken a DIY job compared with 69% of men. Regionally the survey revealed that People in the North West and Wales were most likely to have made home improvements, at 72%, while those in London were least likely, at 56%. This could be that the North West and Wales are poorer areas and that many simply cannot afford to carry out essential work on their homes, compared with the more affluent London area where people tend to earn more money and are too busy to carry out DIY tasks around the home.

The credit crunch has got many worried about money and many plumbers, electricians and builders are seeing a dip in business, hinting towards a rising trend in people carrying out tasks that many would normally hire a professional to do. There's nothing wrong with doing a bit of DIY but it is important to be careful and do all the research possible, otherwise an unexpected phone call to the home insurance provider may be in order.